Yauatcha ropes in Nachiket Barve to design lanterns for the Chinese New Year

The lanterns are inspired by the mysticism and romance of Hong Kong-based auteur Wong Kar-wai's cinema

Man’s best friend is about to have an entire year dedicated to it, going by the Lunar New Year. February 16 marks the start of the new Chinese Year—the Year of the Dog. And while fashion giant Gucci released a custom Animoji last month for the Lunar New Year, dim sum teahouse and Chinese restaurant Yauatcha—that opened its first location in London in 2004—is going the traditional route to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Hakkasan Group’s Yauatcha has roped in leading artists across London and India to recreate special lanterns that pay homage to the festival.

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While two leading London artists—Lydia Kasumi Shirreff and Jamie Julien Brown—will design lanterns for Yauatcha London, fashion designer Nachiket Barve, who is celebrating a decade in the business, will design a special edition of the lantern, 698 handcrafted paper lanterns to be exact, that will be on display at Yauatcha restaurants across Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata in time for the Chinese New Year.

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When we caught up with Barve, here’s what he had to say about the exciting collaboration: “The richly layered form of the lanterns for Yauatcha create a mood of fantasy, magic and celebration. They evoke the mysticism and romance of Wong Kar-wai’s cinema, the exuberance of the Chinese New Year and the rich vibrant yet elegant glamour synonymous with the label”.

In addition to the lanterns, Yauatcha is also curating a special celebratory menu for the Chinese New Year, which includes patisserie and macarons and dishes inspired by the annual festivities. We can’t wait to enjoy a traditional Chinese fare under one of Nachiket’s designer lanterns!